How many calories are burned in a stage of the Tour de France?
William Rodriguez
Published Jan 23, 2026
Top Tour de France cyclists who complete all 21 stages burn about 120,000 calories during the race – or an average of nearly 6,000 calories per stage. On some of the more difficult mountain stages – like this year's Stage 17 – racers will burn close to 8,000 calories.
How many calories a day does a Tour de France rider burn?
The caloric cost of the Tour de France is massive. The average 150-pound rider will scorch between 5,000 and 8,000 calories a day while racing more than 2,100 miles around France in 21 days.
How many calories do Tour de France riders burn an hour?
Based on the conservative estimate of 105,000 calories burned over the course of the race, a rider who finishes the Tour burns roughly 1,180 kcal during each of those 89 hours. Compare this with the average 100 kcal burned each hour by an average person who needs 2,400 kcal to support their daily activities.
How many calories does a pro cyclist burn per hour?
cyclist riding at a moderate effort level will burn approximately 650 calories per hour.
How much weight do you lose Tour de France?
Or in case of an emergency, the maximum weight loss would be 0.5kg," Van der Stelt explains. Though calorie burn and intake will vary between individuals, she says the riders use up to 8,000 calories a day - "taking on 10 per cent extra every day, just in case," which can even cause some weight gain.
28 related questions foundWhy are Tour de France riders so skinny?
It comes down to maximizing your power-to-weight ratio. Or, to put that in less egg-headed terms, if two competitors produce the same power on the bike, the lighter one will almost always be able to accelerate and drop their heavier competition on the big mountain climbs, where this race is often won and lost.
Do Tour de France riders poop?
Now, if you're wondering about the other reason humans need to use the bathroom, that's a little more complicated. Ideally, racers would plan around their need to defecate, but once in a while, nature calls and all you can do is answer it.
Is cycling a form of cardio?
Biking is a top-notch cardio workout. You'll burn about 400 calories an hour. Plus it strengthens your lower body, including your legs, hips, and glutes. If you want a workout that's gentle on your back, hips, knees, and ankles, this is a great choice.
Is cycling better than running?
The number of calories you burn in either exercise depends on the intensity and length of time you do it. In general, running burns more calories than cycling because it uses more muscles. However, cycling is gentler on the body, and you may be able to do it longer or faster than you can run.
Does walking or biking burn more calories?
Cycling is a far more effective way to burn calories and develop muscle than walking. Cycling burns about twice as many calories per hour as walking, and since it is a more intense workout with the option of increasing resistance as you cycle, it is also a much quicker method of muscle mass development.
What cyclists eat in a day?
Riders have their breakfast around three hours before the race — carbohydrate-rich foods like bread, muesli, cereal, fruit, coffee, smoothies, orange juice and even noodles help top up glycogen stores. “One thing all riders avoid is eating heavy food,” says Judith Haudum, sports nutritionist to the BMC Racing team.
How do pro cyclists lose weight?
One typical daily pattern is to eat a balanced breakfast, ride through lunch using energy products and then have an early main meal. Wiggins, on the other hand, trained hard before breakfast to speed up his metabolism for the day. He also avoided gluten for two months, and abstained from alcohol completely.
How much do pro cyclists eat?
For a 70-kg rider, that means eating between 6,700 and 7,000 calories in a single day. He starts off with his largest sit-down meal of the day; breakfast consists of 2 pancakes with maple syrup, 2 poached eggs on toast, and a bowl of oatmeal with honey. This all comes to a total of around 1,350 calories.
How many calories do cyclist eat?
"On average, Grand Tour riders ingest between 5000 and 8000 kcal per day." What are the nutritional challenges facing riders? Under-fuelling. It can be difficult for the riders to consume the nutrients they need, as Corinne Reinhard, Senior EU Sport Nutrition Manager at PowerBar, describes.
What do cyclists eat for breakfast?
Three cycling breakfasts
- Porridge made with milk or soya with fresh berries, banana and mixed seeds.
- Scrambled egg on whole-grain toast with grilled tomato.
- Smoothie made with banana, nut butter, milk and oats.
How many calories does a bicyclist in the Tour de France have on a daily basis?
Tour de France cyclists ride about 110 miles and burn an average of 6,071 calories each day of the race.
Does biking burn belly fat?
Yes, cycling can help lose belly fat, but it will take time. A recent study showed regular cycling may enhance overall fat loss and promote a healthy weight. To reduce overall belly girth, moderate-intensity aerobic exercises, such as cycling (either indoor or outdoor), are effective to lower belly fat.
Is cycling good for abs?
Will Cycling Give You Abs? Cycling won't give you rock-hard abs but that doesn't mean that your core won't benefit. And building a stronger core will make you a better cyclist, too. In cycling, you use your abs for stabilisation; your core keeps you steady and stable in the saddle.
How much should I cycle a day to lose weight?
The length of time you ride and the intensity are the main factors in how many calories you burn. If you're starting with little or no activity, biking 15 minutes a day, or 30 minutes a few times a week, is an excellent way to improve health and will likely reduce your weight.
Is cycling good for your butt?
Cycling is an exceptionally good activity to lift and strengthen the glutes, which are responsible for the initiation of the downward phase of the cycling pedal stroke and are therefore worked whenever you're pedalling.
What are the disadvantages of cycling?
The 10 Main Downsides to Cycling
- Exposure to the Elements.
- Unexpected Expenses.
- Dangerous Drivers.
- Road Hazards.
- Poor Lights.
- Lack of Bicycle Lanes and Trails.
- Lack of Storage.
- Limited Travel Distance.
Is cycling a full body workout?
What muscles are used in indoor cycling? Indoor cycling is a total-body workout and works all of the major muscle groups.
Do cyclists wear diapers?
Competitive cyclists, they said, do not wear underpants because they become uncomfortable and can chafe during a stage. Despite long days in the saddle, travelling through some of France's most beautiful countryside, Wynants admitted he has little time for enjoying the scenery.
Do cyclists pee while riding?
Pee whilst you ride
Not all riders are happy to pee on the bike, whilst others tend to look for a helping hand - with a team-mate pushing them from behind so they can keep up momentum whilst pedalling.
How much does a Tour de France bike weight?
Today, bikes weigh in at just under 15 pounds—but not any lower, since the UCI's minimum bike weight is 6.8kg, which translates to 14.99 pounds.